Inflatable ball



Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

PATENT QEICE.

JOHN' T. RIDDELL, 0F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

INFLATABLE BALL.

Application filed March 12, 1926. YSerial No. 94,111.

, inflating the same.

@ther objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a side view shown partially in section of a football embodying the invention; and,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawing comprises the usual inner inflatable rubber member or bag 3V enclosed in the usual leather cover 4, having the usual gap or slit in one side thereof closed by the usual lacing 5.` So much of the construction is old and well known, being the ordinary football construction and the same constitutes no part of my present invention eXcept in so far as the same cooperates with the parts to be presently described.

The inner inflatable rubber member 8 is provided with an inwardly projecting valve stem 6 for infiating the same. This valve stem is preferably formed of aluminum or other light metal, having an outer head or Hangs 7 and a nut imprisoning and securing a rubber flap or flange 6 to said valve stem. In assembling and making up the infiated member 3, the same is first formed in sections afterwards assembled and vulcanized together'. To one of these sections the valve stem 6 and the flap 6 is applied and vulcanized thereto by means of suitable heat before the sections of the member 8 are assembled together. The valve stem 6 is provided with an ordinary readily removable spring-held check valve 9 equipped with the usual rod 9 for opening the same. The valve stem 6 is provided at its outer end with internal threads 10 toV permit of the ready insertion and removal ofthe check valve 9 and also to receive a fitting con` nected with an air pump or other means for supplying air under pressure for inflating the member 3 in the usual way. The

member 8 is also provided with loopsl or straps 11 through which the lacing 5 may be passed to hold the 'member 3 in proper position in the cover 4L so that theV valve stem Gwill always be opposite the opening or slit in said cover.

When it is desired to inflate the ball a suitable air pump or other source of air under pressure is connected with the valve stem 6 through the medium of the internal threads 10 and air under pressure forced into the member 3 until the desired degree of pressure therein is attained. `Then the air pump is disconnected, the valve 9 automatically closing and sealing the valve stem 6 against the escape of the air under pressure. When it is desired to deflate the ball the air is permitted to escape by simply pressing inwardly on the rod 9 thus opening the valve 9 and permitting the escape of the confined air. At any time, when necessary, a new check valve may be substituted for the old one. In this way the ball may be uniformly inflated or deflated without materially disturbing the lacing 5 and a highly efficient seal, preventing the escape of the confined air, obtained owing to the fact that the internal pressure forces the valve 9 to its seat so that the greater the internal pressure the greater the force holding the valve to its seat. The valve stem being entirely enclosed in the ball itself is entirely protected thereby and the ination of the ball when in use prevents contact of the valve stem with the inner walls of the ball. The specific form and arrangement of parts is a simple and effective one for the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

, I-Iaving thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by I etters Patent is: Y

1. An inflatable ball comprising an outer cover and an inner rubber inflatable member; a valve stem arranged entirely within saidinflatable member and projecting into the interior thereof, said valve stem having @rubber flap secured thereto and said rubber flap being 1n turn secured to the inner Wall of said inflatable member; and a spring held check vulve in said Valve Stem, substantially as described.

2. An inflatable ball comprising an outer cover and an inner inflatable rubber mem ber; a valve stem secured to e. Wall of said inflatable member and projecting into lthe interior thereof, said valve stem having an outer heardv and a cooperating` nut, a rubber flap being imprisoned between seid head and nut, said rubber fla-p being vulcanized to the inner Wall of said inflatable rubber member;

and a Spring held check valve in said Valve stem, substantially as described.

3. An inflatable ball comprising an outer cover anden inner rubber inflated member; a Yzilve stem arranged entirely Within seid inflatable member and projecting into the interior thereof, said valve stem being secured to the Wall of Said inflat-able member to lie entirely Within Said inflated member; und springeheld check Valve in said Valve stem.

'In testimony whereof" l have signed my nume to this specification.

JOHN T. RIDDELL. 

